Thursday, April 26, 2012

THE COMBAT AIRLIFTER CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also e-mail them to combatairlifterclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in Friday's issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A free one-year membership in Military Officers Association of America is available for active, reserve, & National Guard officers who are not prior members. Contact Central Arkansas Chapter Secretary (cacmoaa@aol.com).

Kelly Welcher from the Arkansas State Employee Benefit Company will be here from 8 to 10 a.m. May 22 at building 1255 in the first floor break room to explain the Month-to-Month turnkey vanpool program and Public Transportation Benefit Program procedure. For more information about the Public Transportation Benefit Program, contact Lynn Shaw, base program point of contact at ronnie.shaw@us.af.mil, Environmental Dept. at 501-987-8135 or his alternate, Danny Mills, danny.mills@us.af.mil, 501-987-6436.

NEW TORNADO SIREN PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTED

Little Rock AFB has modified its tornado siren procedures. The new procedures will sound the Giant Voice siren continuously when an imminent threat to the base is detected. Upon hearing the siren, immediately seek shelter and stay there until the siren ceases.

Contact 19 CES Emergency Management at 501-987-7610 if you have any further questions

2012 HIRING OUR HEROS VETERANS EVENT TUESDAY

There will be a free hiring fair for military veteran job seekers, active duty military members, guard and reserve members and eligible spouses Tuesday in Sherwood. For assistance, email hiringourheroes@uschamber.com.

SCHOOL AGED PHYSICALS

School-aged physicals are available at the medical group for the upcoming school year. If schools require a special form, patients must bring it with them to the appointment. Parents must also bring a copy of their child’s shot records. In order to get an appointment at the medical group, patients must be enrolled for care with Little Rock Air Force Base medical clinic. Those enrolled to an off-base provider must see them for care. Patients being seen off-base who would like to enroll at the medical group to take advantage of this service can stop by the Tricare Service Center.

Note: For individuals who have completed well appointments recently with normal results, the SF600 signed by the provider used during this visit can be used for the purpose of the physical. However, if a particular form is needed by the school, please drop it off at the Pediatric front desk. It will be processed and patients will receive a call back when it’s ready for pick-up.

For children who will participate in a sports activity or needs a school-aged physical, it is best to schedule early to avoid a possible delay as appointments are based on provider availability and mission requirements.

Patients can book their sports physical online at www.tricare.mil. Make sure to select the “school physical” visit reason.

If an appointment can’t be located online, call the appointment line at 987-8811.

Walk-in physical days are offered in the afternoons at the Family Health/Pediatric Clinic on the following days: June 7, July 19, 26, August 9, 16, and Sept 20, 27. Hours are 1 – 3:30 p.m.

LEGAL OFFICE TEMPORARY LOCATION CHANGE

The legal office has been moved to a temporary location at building 830. Walk-in legal assistance hours are Mondays 2 – 3 p.m. and Fridays 9 – 10 a.m. Powers of Attorney and Notary Services are still available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The legal office will close at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for training. Wills are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday mornings by appointment only. (Please complete a Will worksheet available at https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil or you may drop by the legal office for a hard copy.)

We apologize for any inconvenience for this temporary move and appreciate your patience. If you have any questions, please call the legal office at 987-7886.

ANTICIPATED FEDERAL CIVILIAN VACANCIES AT LITTLE ROCK

Please keep in mind that the job listed may take an extended period of time to be advertised. A hiring priority may prevent advertising a position. The website for applicants to apply is http://www.afciviliancareers.com. For questions, call their toll-free number at 1-800-525-0102.

Community Planner, GS-0020-11

Maintenance & Operations Supervisor, WS-4701-10

Administrative Support Assistant, GS-0303-05 (ART)

Secretary, GS-0318-05 (2 Vacancies)

Resource Management Assistant, GS-0303-07, ART

Administrative Support Assistant, GS-0303-05, ART

STUDENT SUMMER-HIRE LIFEGUARD POSTIONS AVAILABLE AT LRAFB

The Little Rock AFB Civilian Personnel Office is currently accepting applications for the following summer hire positions: GS-02, GS-03 and GS-04 Lifeguards. Applicants must submit a completed application package. ALL certifications must be good through Sept. 30, 2012.

Application packets may be picked up at the Civilian Personnel Office or emailed upon request. Please submit application packages to the Civilian Personnel Office, 19FSS/FSMC, 1255 Vandenberg Blvd, Suite 227, Little Rock AFB, Ark., 72099-5052 (Applications will not be received electronically). Applicants must submit a complete application package to be considered. Applications received by close of business today, 13 April 2012, will receive first hiring consideration. All applications must be received by 01 June 2012. For more information call the Civilian Personnel Office at 987-3212.

BANQUET SLATED FOR TODAY

The 314th MXG Maintenance Pro Banquet will be today at Hanger 1080. The Social/Medallion Ceremony will begin at 5 p.m., and the dinner will be at 6 p.m. The uniform will be ABU’s, and the guest speaker is Ret. Master Sgt. George Peterson.

LUNCHEON SET FOR THURSDAY

National Asian American/Pacific Island Heritage Month luncheon, “Striving for Excellence in Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion,” will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Hangar 1080. Cost is $13. RSVP to Master Sgt. Kristi Lott at Kristi.lott@us.af.mil no later than Monday. Dress is uniform of the day for military members and business casual for civilans.

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – Two recent stories on the Air Force’s web page drew significant reaction in the site’s comments section. Both a story on finance troops being awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the news that Air Force Space Command was ending wear of flight suits by non-aircrew personnel drove more comments than any story I’ve ever read on the site.

One attracted so many negative comments; the comments themselves became the subject of a story in Air Force Times. The reason for the publicity wasn’t the sheer number of comments, but their nature. Many, if not most, of the comments on both stories were sarcastic, bitter, or just plain rude.

It’s not the existence of negative comments that bothers me. I think discourse on Air Force issues is good for us as Airmen and our service as a whole. And if you take some time to consider the arguments surrounding the issues covered in these stories, there are some valid points on both sides.

This discourse can become heated. That’s OK in my book. I appreciate someone who is passionate about their opinion and ready to defend it. The problem here is that there is a direct correlation to the nature of the comment and whether or not the commentator was anonymous. Almost without exception, comments that were rude or sarcastic came from an anonymous source.

I recognize the subjectivity of the last sentence. What’s rude to one person may be perfectly acceptable to another. But it’s safe to say that the wording of most of these comments would be changed drastically, or even left unsaid, if their originator’s identity was attached to them.

The anonymity offered by the internet has given those with an axe to grind a false sense of empowerment. I say ‘false’ because the very nature of their comments limits their utility. The angry rant in the comments section rarely inspires real change and usually only serves one person – the one doing the ranting.

I’m not advocating a “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” approach.

Our business is serious. Sometimes we have to say things that are unpleasant to others. But, as leaders, I think we have the duty to own it. This isn’t just about comments on a web page. It’s about accountability. If you want to criticize something, have the intestinal fortitude to defend that criticism and the manner in which it was conveyed. If you can’t own it, why say it at all?

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – Senior Defense Department officials today said they hope more service members who are victims of sexual assault report the crimes as a result of a policy change Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced last week.

Panetta issued guidance April 20 withholding “initial disposition authority” from any officer who is below the O-6 -- colonel or Navy captain -- level and who does not hold special court-martial convening authority. In other words, unit commanders at the company or squadron level no longer have authority to decide whether to take further action in reported cases of attempted rape, forcible sodomy or sexual assault.

In announcing the new policy, the secretary said the change will ensure that sexual assault cases receive high-level attention.

A senior defense official told reporters today during a background briefing that the new policy will allow more experienced and less partial officers to make the initial decision on whether a sexual assault case goes to trial. That will add consistency to how such cases are handled, the official added.

“The further ‘north’ you go [in rank] the more attention there is paid to this,” the official said. “They get a level of training that somebody at the O-3 level wouldn’t necessarily get.”

The defense official cited a hypothetical case in which an alleged attacker and victim belong to the same company-level unit of about 115 enlisted people and five officers working for the same Army captain or Navy lieutenant commander.

In the past, the official said, a victim in that unit might choose not to report an assault because the commander liked the alleged attacker more, or because the victim’s performance in the unit might cause the commander to disbelieve the victim’s report. Now, that unit commander must forward such reports up the chain of command to a colonel-level special court-martial convening authority.

A Joint Staff official told reporters, also on background, that the new policy is intended in part to remove decisions from the “immediate level of the crime.”

More senior officers will have “a more neutral ability to take a look at the facts ... and make a reasoned decision,” the Joint Staff official said.

The change also means that officers making future disposition decisions typically will have legal and medical staff members who can assist in determining proper handling of the case, the defense official said. The new policy also applies to any associated charges related to an alleged assault, the official added.

“Any suggestion or appearance of retaliation would have to be resolved at the same [higher] level,” the official said.

The official noted there are several precedents for the withholding policy. A similar approach – placing authority for case disposition under the Uniform Code of Military Justice with more senior officers – typically applies in cases of officer misconduct, cases with national security interest or in alleged misconduct by civilians accompanying the force, the official said.

The official said Panetta has directed that other new policies also take effect:

n Establishing “Special Victim’s Unit” capabilities within each of the services, to ensure that specially trained investigators, prosecutors and victim-witness assistance personnel are available to assist with sexual assault cases;

Requiring that sexual assault policies be explained to all service members within 14 days of their entrance on active duty;

Allowing reserve and National Guard members who have been sexually assaulted while on active duty to remain in their active-duty status to obtain the treatment and support afforded to active-duty members;

Requiring a record of the outcome of disciplinary and administrative proceedings related to sexual assault, and requiring that copies of those records be centrally retained;

Requiring annual organizational climate assessments; and

Mandating wider public dissemination of DOD resources, including the DOD Safe Helpline, a free, anonymous and confidential resource that can be reached worldwide, 24 hours a day, to connect victims with live sexual assault support professionals.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – With the summer moving season just around the corner, thousands of Airmen and their families can now use a new housing website to help prepare for their move.

The website,www.housing.af.mil, provides dormitory information for unaccompanied Airmen while detailing housing options and support services available at Air Force installations. For example, the website gives insights into local communities, school districts, weather and other resources designed to help Airmen and their families become familiar with their new homes.

“[The website] is a single source for Airmen and their families for any and everything housing,” said Ms Judith Teague, Air Mobility Command housing asset manager. “The best part about the site is that it is on a public website where anyone can access the information anytime.”

The website features helpful housing links, a list of frequently asked questions, links to other resources such as move.mil and Automated Housing Referral Network websites and an interactive map of bases. The site also connects users with the Defense Travel Management Office site which helps families track their household goods.

“The difference of this site from others is that now everything is streamlined throughout the Air Force including joint installations,” said Teague. “Prior to this each base was different in how and where you found information on housing on or around the installation.

“This will be a great resource,” added Teague. “The site is designed to provide help from one centralized location. In the event that a person has more questions, they are given the contact information to their installation housing office for further assistance.”

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Conducting performance feedback is one of the most important aspects of Airmen development but one that is widely neglected. The success of our goal oriented performance appraisal system is based on setting attainable goals, mentoring, reinforcing positive behaviors, giving immediate and honest feedback, as well as developing an accurate goal based rewards system which is essential to the ultimate success of our Airmen and U.S. Air Force.

No matter where you are in an organization, performance feedback is essential to your professional growth. For our junior enlisted Airmen, feedback is most important to get them acclimated to military life and set standards and goals for them to strive for. Our junior NCO’s need constant feedback on how they should lead our Airmen and progress in their own careers. SNCO’s need feedback on how to develop their subordinates and how to lead their work centers. And believe it or not, Chiefs need feedback too. Sometimes the higher you are in an organization, the less feedback you actually get. Bottom line: EVERYONE NEEDS FEEDBACK.

There are many things that get in the way of feedback, but none are acceptable. Not only is it an Air Force requirement, but it is critical to the professional growth of our Airmen. Many times supervisors gloss over feedbacks but don’t really go into depth on where and how an Airman can improve. Many supervisors find giving negative feedback is uncomfortable and as a result they avoid it. Feedback must be honest, timely and comprehensive in order for it to be effective. Discussing goals, how subordinate performance stacks against peers, and specific behaviors required for improvement is necessary to propel Airman to higher levels. This feedback needs to happen at specific intervals per AFI, but that shouldn’t tie supervisors hands. You should give feedback any time you think it is needed, and not only for negative behavior, but just as importantly, to reinforce positive performance. Also, keep in mind that feedback isn’t limited to just the written form. Some of the most important feedback can take place during normal everyday conversation.

Remember, as the subordinate you can ask for feedback anytime. In fact, if you are unclear on expectations and direction I highly encourage you to do just that. Grab your supervisor and ask for a feedback. In fact, you should fight for feedback often. Don’t wait until your EPR is due to realize that you have missed the mark. You are responsible for knowing where your performance stands and what is required for you to become successful and excel.

Almost 65 percent of all DoD Household Goods moves are performed during the summer peak season, May 15 – Sept. 30. Unfortunately, many service members that moved during last year’s peak season experienced some dissatisfaction with the process. Two main areas were the focus of their complaints:

The Transportation Service Provider “AKA carrier” could not accommodate preferred dates and/or did not handle property with care.

The Defense Personal Property System system locked up often and screens were slow to load.

Moving is stressful and any issue that impedes the move process places a burden on the members and their families.

Unfortunately, some moving problems are beyond the control of the DoD, such as a shortage of private sector drivers and an increase in private sector moves. However, there are areas where DoD has made improvements, ranging from simple things such as easier to find Personal Property Processing Office customer service numbers to more technical fixes like improved DPS performance.

Since last peak season, DPS has gone through many changes and upgrades in order to improve the moving experience. The web pages were changed to make the system more user-friendly, the speed and functionality of the system has been upgraded to decrease lock-ups and improve processing times, and the claims module has been redeveloped to enable easier navigation and faster claims completion.

While this year may see some of the same uncontrollable problems, such as driver availability, we expect the system improvements will greatly enhance the overall experience for DoD members. Below are some helpful tips to reduce stress and make your move a successful one:

Visit www.move.mil, review the “it’s your move” pamphlets and other informative information under the “DoD Service Members and Civilians” section

If you self-counsel be sure to bring the required paperwork into your base PPPO (Bldg. 1255, room 104) as soon as you complete the counseling

If you do self-counsel and encounter problems with the system, contact the DPS helpdesk at 1-800-462-2176 option five. If you have entitlement questions contact your Little Rock Air Force Base PPPO at 987-3582.

Provide both primary and alternate move dates and be flexible with these dates

Provide a valid e-mail address and phone number so that you can be readily reached throughout your move

Remember to obtain and keep numbers and points of contact from the TSP conducting yourmove and keep in contact with them throughout the move

Contact your PPPO (987-3582) immediately if your TSP doesn’t initiate contact within 10 days of primary pack and pick up dates or if they do not arrive on the projected move day

For questions prior to your move, contact your local PPPO; for questions after your property has picked up, contact your TSP with questions.

Once your move dates are requested, don’t assume they are set. Move dates are not confirmed until your TSP has contacted you and confirmed the dates.

Never schedule a pickup on the following days:

Closing date of a residence.

The last day of residency in an apartment or the day of termination of a lease.

The day a cleaning crew is to start cleaning.

Another move option to consider is performing a Personally Procured Move. These moves allow service members to control their own move dates and avoid any delay between arriving to a new assignment and receiving their personal property. Members are also reimbursed 95 percent of the cost of a government move.

In order to have a successful move you need to be engaged and start planning your move as soon as you are notified. Along with the tips above, your PPPO is available and ready to answer any questions you have…give them a call.

Sunday is Earth Day, a day for people of all backgrounds, ethnicities and social classes to show their appreciation for the planet and take measures to protect the environment while promoting a more environmentally friendly culture.

Team Little Rock is scheduled to take an active role in the promotion and celebration of Earth Day with a slew of on and off base events and volunteer opportunities during the week of Monday through April 27.

James Popham, the 19th Civil Engineer Squadron natural resources manager at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., said there are many agencies involved, with diverse opportunities for base personnel interested in volunteering.

“Right now, we have 11 different state, federal, local and base environmental agencies set up to do Earth Day displays and demonstrations at Tolleson Elementary School,” said Popham.

Tolleson Elementary is located outside of the base housing gate on base, and the Earth Day festivities are scheduled to take place from 9a.m. - 3 p.m., April, said Popham.

“Some of the different agencies coming out include Arkansas Parks and Tourism, Arkansas Highway Department and Transportation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville recycling, Little Rock AFB Natural Resources, CE Energy Office, Storm Water Management, and the base Fire Department might partner with the Arkansas Forestry Commission,” said Popham.

There will also be handouts and literature distributed about other environmental agencies, as well as a raptor rehabilitator, a professional who specializes in helping restore sick or injured birds of prey into a healthy condition.

In addition to the festivities at Tolleson Elementary, the base environmental office will also organize multiple projects on base during the week, ranging from routine cleanups, to mulching trees around base, to cutting down invasive trees and vines.

“We usually try to clean up the nature trail, and clean up around the base lakes,” said Popham. “More involved projects include cutting down mimosa trees, and other invasive types of trees or bushes in the woods.”

Cutting down invasive trees will include the use of chainsaws, said Popham. Personnel interested in volunteering for a project that involves the use of a chainsaw are required to be trained and to wear the proper safety equipment. Training will be provided by base agencies.

One project that Popham is hoping to successfully orchestrate during the week is to clean up the streams behind base housing.

“We’ve only had volunteers to clean the streams a couple of times,” said Popham. “Those streams are a collection point for trash, a lot of waste goes down there. Of course if anybody works in those streams, they should be careful about poisonous snakes like water moccasins and copperheads. That’s probably why we don’t get a lot of volunteers for this at this time of the year.”

Popham said there is a way to help clean up around the streams without having to worry about snakes, people can still clean up waste around perimeter road by the woods by base housing.

The 19th CES pollution prevention manager Lynn Shaw said he would like to get volunteers to clean up illegal dumping areas on base.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

The 314th Airlift Wing recently began the first stage of self-assessments in preparation for our Combined Unit Inspection in December. However, the work we’re completing now isn’t solely for an inspection; it’s the leading edge of a philosophy shift away from compliance inspections to the future state of Unit Effectiveness Inspections.

Appropriately, the Secretary of the Air Force Inspector General’s office recently released an updated version of AFI 90-201. The Air Force Inspection System, on March 23. The AFI covers areas we’d normally expect regarding inspections while also introducing some very important changes for the Air Force Inspection System, namely the use of the Management Internal Control Toolset.

What is MICT, you may ask?

MICT is a web based system that is designed to assist commanders, at all levels, with the ability to implement a self-assessment program, which is just one source commanders utilize to determine overall health of the wing, group or squadron. The updated AFI 90-201 drives an important shift from just a compliance perspective, to a more robust measurement of a unit’s mission effectiveness.

Shortly after the release of updated AFIs, most Airmen will dive in to review changes; determine what’s in and what’s out, what it means to their section, and how it affects them. The use of MICT is a new requirement and with any newly mandated system, it may be hard to see the benefit or need if you are thinking “why change?” That said, this change is for the better and again helps us prepare for a new way of conducting self-assessments.

Other bases have used MICT with great success and our reserve partners have been using it for a few years to successfully run self-assessment programs. Transitioning to a centrally managed web based system is good practice where we can achieve efficiencies, and more importantly, mission effectiveness.

Many people expressed initial concerns about transitioning to the virtual MPF, but in time those concerns were replaced with knowledge and skill of maneuvering around the vMPF to find what you need and get action oriented results. The same will be true with MICT. It will take us a few months to learn the inner workings of this new system, but the mission will become more effective in the long run. How? For one, say goodbye to figuring out which version of that Excel checklist is the most current.

MICT will be the database of record now, with self-assessment checklists being pushed from the top down by Headquarters Air Force and Major Command functional area managers. Similarly, a wing level functional manager will be able to access MICT, find the appropriate HAF/MAJCOM checklist and make it available to the group and squadron level program managers. Even though MICT is relatively new to many, it’s a system that all wings will be required to use since MICT is a pathway to enable the overall objectives of the Air Force Inspection System, which are conveniently found in AFI 90-201.

Ultimately, we will spend less time on the technical portion of running checklists and more time on the mission oriented side ensuring our programs are not only in compliance, but effective.

As the chill of Winter fades, and thoughts of cool weather recede into the nether regions of the cerebral cortex and Spring fever flourishes in the air, many Airmen stop commuting in closed-door, four wheeled automobiles in exchange for the open-aired freedom of motorcycles.

While motorcycle riding can be a great way for people to enjoy the warmer climes, there are safety precautions and prerequisites for any motorcycle rider on base. This includes active duty Airmen, civilian employees, spouses and family members who wish to ride on base.

The Air Force takes motorcycle safety seriously. AFI 91-207, U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program, paragraph 4.5, outlines the directions for safety regulations when operating a motorcycle, but the 19th Airlift Wing Safety office is also available to help.

“The biggest problem I see on base is people not wearing their personal protective equipment,” said Master Sgt. Gregory Bradford, a 19th AW ground safety technician, and the instructor for the base’s motorcycle safety courses. “I’m trying to get all of the riders to get the message that wearing PPE isn’t an option, it’s a requirement.”

Not properly wearing PPE while riding a motorcycle is the most common violation the safety office sees, but there are other areas of concern for motorcycle safety too.

“The most serious concern, right now, is other drivers not used to driving with motorcycles on the road,” said Master Sgt. Ricky Carroll, a 19th AW ground safety technician.

Carroll also said that riders should give themselves time to acclimate to riding, particularly after a length three to four month winter break.

“With motorcycle riding, you ride all year and get good in the summer time, but then winter comes,” said Carroll. “If you get back on your motorcycle in the Spring, your skills may not be what they were before. Shake the rust off slow.”

Bradford said a lot of simple skills can be tougher after a long break from riding.

“Even something as simple as making a turn can be difficult for new riders,” he said.

Another prime safety issue is military members not wearing helmets while riding off base, said Bradford.

“For military, it’s mandatory to wear helmets, even off base,” said Bradford.

Wearing a helmet is possibly the most important aspect of motorcycle safety. According to statistics compiled by the Department of Transportation, featured in an article in USA Today in 2008, motorcycle deaths trended up in the years following a slackening of helmet laws.

While safety regulations are outlined in AFIs and can be argued based on statistics, Bradford also teaches a safety class on base, with multiple classes available monthly. Between April and May there will be 12 classes available to potential motorcycle riders on base.

“If you plan on riding a motorcycle or want to attend the class, make sure you inform your motorcycle safety rep and channel it through your chain of command first,” said Bradford. “We want to make sure everybody is trained, but they have to go through their chain first. The main thing is communication, and then participation.”

Safety courses are a good starting point to learn how to mitigate the risk of riding a motorcycle, but it’s incumbent on the rider to practice risk management at all times.

“Basically, use common sense and risk management,” said Bradford.

“Also make sure you plan your trips out,” said Carroll. “Especially for group rides, make sure you plan your route and always use caution, especially with unfamiliar roads.”

For more information about motorcycle safety or attending one of the courses available please contact Bradford at 987-3905.

What should someone do if they’re at a party and they leave their drink to go to the restroom? When they return do they assume the contents in their drink are still the same? When a co-worker is being just a little too friendly at work, does one keep quiet to avoid awkwardness? The answers to these questions could be the difference between someone being molested, raped or even killed.

April is the month of sexual assault awareness and prevention, but every day is a day to be observant, cautious and aware of what’s around and who’s around.

“Since sexual assault is one of the most traumatic events that can happen to a female or male, we stop a life altering event with prevention,” said Frank Cope, the Sexual Assault Response coordinator for Little Rock Air Force Base and the state of Arkansas. “Some victims are never able to cope, so prevention is the most important action we can take.”

Cope said in some cases, Airmen who have been assaulted end up separating from the Air Force.

Cope, along with his assistant, Linda Benjamin, gives Bystander Intervention Training on base. During the training, the instructors try to prepare Airmen to think when they are faced with situations that can lead to sexual assault.

“Put in practice the Bystander Intervention Training you have received,” he said. “Be a true wingman, and lookout for each other in every situation. Do not tolerate any level of sexual harassment toward yourself or others; it often leads to a sexual assault. We too often give people the benefit of the doubt in situations when we should step up and get involved.”

Being cautious while out drinking is one of the tips that Cope said can help prevent sexual assault.

“Watch your alcohol intake, and watch your friend’s alcohol intake,” he said. “Alcohol is still the number one date-rape drug and can put you at higher risk of becoming a victim. Have a plan when you go out. Look out for each other, and don’t leave someone in a situation where they could become a victim. Remember, in the Air Force, 90 percent of sexual assaults are committed by a fellow Airman that you know. Unfortunately, trust is given where it shouldn’t be sometimes.”

Cope also said to never take an open container from anyone. Drinking can alter one’s normal decision-making skills. That’s why it is important to always have someone with you who’s not drinking. There is strength in numbers, Cope said.

And contrary to popular belief, men are sexually assaulted, especially in Central Arkansas, Cope explained. Most men don’t report their assault or get help.

However, there is help for anyone who needs it. For questions, concerns or to report an incident, one can contact the SARC, either by going to Cope’s office in Building 842 next to the Hercules Dining Facility or calling the Hotline at 987-7272, which is 24/7 service.

“Restricted Reporting, which is a confidential report, for active duty members and their family members is now available,” said Cope. “When you call the hotline or talk to a SARC/Victim Advocate, we will tell no one about anything; we don’t tell law enforcement. But, if you have already talked to other people prior, they may cause it to be an unrestricted report. So, call us first.”

Too often sexual assault happens right under the noses of everyone but goes under the radar. If more precautions are taken by all, a lot more cases can be prevented. Let this April be the month everyone sharpens their skills on being aware of surroundings, being responsible Airmen and reliable wingmen for one another because if it hurts one, it affects all.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The C. W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program is scheduled to come to Little Rock Air Force Base Monday through April 15.

This program aims to educate the base on the procedure and bring more awareness to minorities, who are at the bottom of the list for number of donors.

Active duty members from all branches of service, guardsmen, reservists, DoD civilian employees, contractor employees working on base, retirees and dependents in the age group of 18 – 60 years old are able to participate.

The program determines the eligibility of potential bone marrow donors. Even if someone is unable to give blood, doesn’t mean they’re ineligible to give bone marrow. Monday through April 13 will be for active duty members and April 14 - 15 will be for the guard and reserve units here. The drive will be held at the Base Exchange on April 13, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. for any dependents. Family members can participate if they would like.

“What this program does is get a person into the national registry,” said Kelly Lawrence, 19th Medical Group registered nurse for the Family Health Center and coordinator of the drive for Little Rock Air Force Base.

There is a point of contact for each squadron, and that person will have registration kits for those who wish to participate. The kit includes a questionnaire and four cotton-tip swabs. The participants will be swabbed or can swab themselves in the four quadrants of the mouth between the cheeks and gum.

The swabs are sent to a national databank. Doctors from across the world search that databank for patients in need of a transplant. If a participant is found to be a potential match, they will be contacted for additional blood work to be performed to verify that the sample found was indeed a potential match for the candidate.

If the person is a match, there will be more testing and examinations before the transplant is actually performed to make sure that everything is accurate. There is no cost; however, for the donor; it’s all taken care of by the recipient.

The process is confidential. If someone is chosen to be a donor for someone, they will not know who they became a match for, but there are follow-up reports. The donor will receive updates on the recipient’s one month, three month, six months and nine months post-transplant reports. After 12 months post-transplant, the donor and the recipient will have a chance to meet if both parties agree. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, there are times when the transplant fails.

Lawrence said that many minorities aren’t given as much of a chance to survive as Caucasians are because minorities simply aren’t donating.

“Those in need of a transplant can only receive one from a person of the same ethnic background,” said Lawrence. “When you start getting into mixed races, the person in need only has a small window to begin with. More minorities need to donate.”

Lawrence said donating bone marrow is very important and she wants more people to have an awareness of this program; most people don’t donate because they fear the pain that comes with the procedure. “Going through that temporary pain is nothing compared to what the cancer patients endure,” she said.

Capt. Paul Fiasconaro, 19th Operations Group Stan/Eval Chief Navigator, and also a bone marrow donor, said his experience was 100 percent worth it.

“I would do it again if I could,” he said. “The experience was phenomenal. The C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program is outstanding. The feeling you get knowing you saved a life and being able to see the difference you made is priceless. The procedure was quitesimple, the pain was slight and only lasted two days; I was back on flying status two weeks after the procedure”.

Lawrence said her many years of observing the life and struggle of a cancer patient is what caused her to get involved with this drive and urge others to do so as well.

“From a professional view, I’ve been a nurse for 15 years and worked in cancer units for six and half years,” she said. “I’ve seen the patients in need of the bone marrow transplants and understand how important it is for them”.

“On a personal view,” she continued, “a very close friend of mine found out while they were overseas, that their only child, who was at the time 15 months old, had Leukemia. He (the child) had a bone marrow transplant. His donor was international, and I saw what that little boy had to go through. It breaks your heart. Six and half years in oncology can never prepare you to watch that. Unfortunately after the transplant, he developed an infection, and he passed away just three month before his fourth birthday,” she said.

Fiasconaro; however, had a story with a happier ending.

“I saved the life of a 12 year-old boy named Spencer,” he explained. “He spent the last five years of his life in and out of the hospital awaiting a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant. Spencer is 100 percent better and has not seen a relapse as of this statement. His parents keep me updated on how well he is doing in school, sports and everything else he is able to do since the procedure”.

Statistics show that it’s not a guarantee that recipients will survive even after a transplant, but one would never know if they have a chance if people don’t donate. All it takes is one minute for someone to open their mouth and get swabbed to see if a match is on the other end of the stick.

Here at Little Rock the drive will give everyone a chance to volunteer to help save someone’s life.

Fiasconaro said, “I just put myself in their shoes and would hope someone out there would do the same for me”.

If someone has donated before in either the DoD program or with a civilian national registry, they don’t have to be tested again. The test is good until that person’s 61st birthday. Being tested more than once can confuse doctors in to thinking that they have multiple matches, when it’s only one person who has multiple data entries. It is important to keep contact information updated. If someone has donated with the DoD program call 1-800-MARROW-3 or 1-800-MARROW-2 for the civilian registry to update contact information.

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) – Recently, I received and reviewed, with great concern, the alarmingly high Air Force suicide rates for fiscal 2012. As of March 27 we have had 30 suicides for the year compared to 23 at this same time last year.

You may be thinking, “Chief, why are you telling me this?” I would respond that I believe one of the many things we as leaders and Airmen can do to reverse this negative trend is employ increased face-to-face communication with your Airmen, to show we care.

Leaders need to get out from behind the desk to visit, mentor and socialize with our Airmen. Communicating in person has always been and still remains extremely important in today’s Air Force.

We have all been ingrained with the definition of leadership. After reading numerous professional military education articles, one could recite a phrase that would probably sound like, “Leadership is the art or the ability of an individual to influence and direct others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organization and its mission.”

There are other ways to describe leadership. Ultimately, leadership is the ability of great leaders to effectively and efficiently lead Airmen to execute the wing’s mission, while making Airmen fully understand and feel their immeasurable contribution to the success of the Air Force’s overall mission. In my humble opinion, that exemplifies true leadership.

Effective personal communication is no small task in the modern military. With units consistently deploying, issues associated with increased family separation, long hours and countless other factors, Airmen may feel a heavy physical and/or mental burden to which no rank is immune.

Within our military culture, we have come to a crossroads with regard to communicating with our folks. Long forgotten is the talent of the one-on-one, face-to-face mentoring that was commonplace in our Air Force of yesterday. Email has certainly expedited the communication process, but it has also hindered, to some degree, the ability and willingness of some of us to get out from behind the desk. It’s taken away from the time we spend with our Airmen because we spend so much time emailing. I’ve seen Airmen send emails to someone 10 feet away from them in the same office. Is this the way we want to communicate with each other in today’s stressful environment?

In a peacetime military atmosphere, relying on email to communicate is sufficient, but a wartime force, with all the demands placed upon it, needs face-to-face communication. An often neglected leadership principle in today’s environment of technology is getting to know your workers and showing sincere interest in their problems, career development and welfare. It’s hard to show someone you really do care about them in an email.

I believe today, more than ever, we need to put more emphasis back on face-to-face communication. Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, a former Air Force chief of staff, once said, “To become successful leaders, we must first learn that no matter how good the technology or how shiny the equipment, people-to-people relations get things done in our organizations. If you are to be a good leader, you have to cultivate your skills in the arena of personal relations.”

I believe cultivating our inter-personal skills is as simple as just taking the time to talk to your subordinates and get to know them, the things they like and the things they dislike or perhaps about his or her next deployment. Show them you genuinely care for them. A leader who knows his Airmen will be able to recognize when one of them is having problems, either in their personal life or with assigned tasks, and hopefully you will be able to take steps and actions to effect change in the situation. If a leader doesn’t know what normal behavior is from one of his or her Airmen....how will you know what abnormal is?

As the Professional Development Guide states, “Leadership involvement is the key ingredient to maximizing worker performance and hence the mission.” With that said, we need to get out there and lead your Airmen from the front ... they deserve good leadership. Finally, the demands of the ongoing war efforts not only need your attention, but require it.

Let’s face it, we cannot provide the leadership required from behind the desk.